The Hindu : New Delhi News : Banned drugs on sale in hospitals, stores

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Banned drugs on sale in hospitals, stores

Special Correspondent

Raids conducted in Delhi, Rajasthan

Prohibited drugs Rosiglitazone, Gatifloxacin and Tegaserod and their formulations found
Manufacture and distribution of these drugs was banned between November 2010 and March 2011

NEW DELHI: The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) on Friday said several prohibited drugs were found to be on sale when it conducted raids at different places, including hospitals in Delhi and Bhiwadi in Rajasthan.

The raid covered 134 drugs sales outlets, of which 85 were found to be selling banned drugs, an official statement said.

“Orders to not dispose of the stocks of prohibited drugs have been issued to the concerned licencees for the contravention of the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and Rules,” it added.

Among the banned drugs found were Rosiglitazone, Gatifloxacin and Tegaserod and their formulations. Manufacture, distribution and sale of these drugs had been banned for human use between November 2010 and March this year through a gazette notification by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. These drugs were prohibited by the government under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, in public interest, as their continued use was likely to involve certain risks to the consumers and when safer alternatives to them are available.

The DCGI said further action will be taken against them after the investigations are over. “Thirteen teams comprising 56 officials of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) participated in the surprise inspections in Delhi and Bhiwadi,” it said. The inspections were carried out in different areas of Delhi, including Rohini, Pitampura, Tilak Nagar and Janak Puri, it added.

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